Method and apparatus for traveler threading

ABSTRACT

In the automatic piecing of broken yarn upon a textile spinning frame or like machine of the ring-traveler type, yarn on the bobbin is located, retrieved, and positioned first horizontally above the ring at a predetermined distance thereabove and then at a prescribed low angle relative to the spinning ring to facilitate proper traveler threading and the subsequent resumption of normal spinning operations. Both nonthreading and double-threading of the traveler are prevented.

United States Patent 4 4 XXX R /443/ 4 7 357 3 5///5 777 7 555 5 s n T. n m u m u u m m mm m t A eLrLe ommmen n c J n MIMI- mu M n i a GBNBLRJ 0 88889 0 66666 6 99999 9 [1111 l. 38802 5 i1 269 A. 5226 6 3000036 5 79908 5 3 3 3 4 4 3 33333 n 0 m M 0 nr m w 1 a m 97C HS 9'. 1 1" Dnl a0 no a g mm emm g MkMuu nm ACBADMC r 0. de m mm C m. w8 ts m p S I AFPA 11]] 2 253 2247 [iii 54 METHOD AND APPARATUS non TRAVELER Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Art 1) 1d n. F l THREAMNG orney ona e dman 8 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

57/34 M ABSTRACT: In the automatic piecing of broken yarn upon a 57,156 textile spinning frame or like machine of the ring-traveler 1m. 100m 15/00 type Yam bbbin is mated 'eirieved and Pmii"ned Field first horizomauy above the ring at a predetermined distance R 52, 53 54 156 thereabove and then at a prescribed low angle relative to the spinning ring to facilitate proper traveler threading and the subsequent resumption of normal spinning operations. Both nonthreading and double threading; of the traveler are d e n e V 6 fl 0. 4 3 l 7 5 Sm m N" m Mm m S mm mm S w B8 E E n M W 9 H 4 O 9 8 2 3 PATENTEU UECZI I97! SHEET 1 BF 5 INVENTOR I A LBERT 0. AME/MON WHHEU M821 1979 $5 9,

SHEET 3 UF s K) 24 INVENTOR FIG.6

ATENTEU DESZI l9?! SHEET 5 OF 5 [NVENTOR FIG. l2

Awe/er 0. A Ae/wo/v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRAVELER THREADING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The term yarn" as used herein is intended to encompass all types of threads, rovings, slivers, yarns and the like.

It is known to rejoin, replace or otherwise piece broken yarns on textile spinning frames and like machines of the ring traveler type by automatic piecing apparatus. Various types of automatic yam-piecing apparatus are disclosed in US. Pats. No. Re. 26,230; 3,373,551; 3,403,866; 3,398,521; and 3,398,522; and Japanese Pat. Publication Nos. 5674/60 and l2866/64, among others. Such apparatus frequently includes a patrolling carriage which is automatically stopped adjacent any delivery of a spinning frame rendered nonproductive by a yarn breakage. The first phase of the piecing operation may include locating and withdrawing the broken end of yarn previously wound onto the bobbin at the delivery. Alternatively, additional yarn from an auxiliary supply may be wound upon the bobbin, or, as in still other known apparatus, an entirely new bobbin may be substituted for that upon the spindle, and yarn either already upon the new bobbin or subsequently added thereto utilized for subsequently ensuing operations. In any event, yarn either originally present or subsequently added to either the original or substituted bobbin is thereafter traveler-threaded and then joined, in any one of several possible ways, with the yarn issuing from the delivery rolls of the spinning frame.

In the traveler-threading operation, it is known to utilize an airblast to preposition the traveler upon the spinning ring and/or to move the traveler onto yarn extending from the hub bin over the traveler-engaging surface of the ring. The traveler may, if desired, also be moved by mechanical means about the ring and onto yarn held against such surface. While travelerthreading which is accomplished by moving the traveler onto the yarn, as opposed to that which is accomplished by moving the yarn into the traveler, has certain advantages, it also tends to be somewhat unreliable l have found under certain conditions. The yarn if extended from the bobbin to the traveler-engaging surface of the ring at a very large or abrupt angle to the substantially horizontal top of the ring flange that the traveler, when subjected to the airblast, will not mount the yarn. As opposed to this nonthreading problem, it is also possible I have found, that if the yarn angle is too shallow or so small that the air-propelled traveler is not stopped by the yarn end and makes more than one revolution about the ring the traveler threads itself twice or more times on the yarn. Either result, of course, is fatal to a proper single traveler-threading operation, and therefore detrimental to the overall efficiency and performance of the piecing apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method and apparatus for performing pneumatic or similar traveler-threading operations in such a manner as to obviate nonthreading of the traveler. The possibility of yarn breakage, upon the resumption of normal spinning operations, as well as the possibility of doublethreading of the traveler, are also thus substantially reduced if not completely eliminated. The benefits are in large part achieved by controlling and adjusting the inclination of the yarn path between the bobbin and the means holding the yarn end such that the thread line extending therebetween is substantially horizontal, and then adjusting the yarn path between the traveler-engaging surface of the spinning ring and the bobbin at a prescribed shallow angle to the horizontal, such latter adjustment being effected immediately prior to the traveler being moved about the ring onto the yarn. According to the invention when the yarn path just prior to threading extends at a consistent and prescribed shallow angle relative to the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the ring and the point where it reaches the bobbin, it has been found that the traveler will reliably mount the yarn to be stopped thereby in its course around the ring so that double or multiple threading is ohviated, and that as a consequence of said shallow angle upon the subsequent resumption of the winding operations the yarn will readily overcome the traveler's inertia and will therefore be subjected to a much reduced stress which otherwise would tent to break it. It has now been found that the hereinbefore described consistent shallow angle'of yarn path required to both obviate multiple threading and prevent nonthreading of the traveler falls within the approximate range of 10 to 20 to the horizontal; when he aforesaid angle is less than 10, 1 have found that as this angle diminishes, the incidence of multiple threading increases, and that when the aforesaid angle is greater than 20", I have further found that as this angle increases the incidence of nonthreading increases, both of which circumstances are intolerable to a consistent and reliable apparatus and method for threading in commercial usage.

In its basic aspects, the method and apparatus of the present invention contemplates positioning a length of yarn connected to the bobbin through a predetermined desired location at an elevation above the substantially horizontal flange of the traveler-engaging surface of the ring, and winding a prescribed length of yarn back onto the bobbin. preferably from 2 to 5 wraps of yarn thereabout cause the inner or bobbin end of the yarn path to attain the predetermined horizontal elevation of the outer end of the yarn path. In accordance with the invention, the yarn path is first adjusted to extend substantially horizontally a prescribed distance above the traveler-engaging surface of the ring, whereupon the yarn intermediate the inner or bobbin-connected and the outer end of the path is then deflected downwardly so as to simultaneously bring it into abutting engagement with the traveler-engaging surface of the ring and thereby to incline the yarn path at the aforesaid prescribed and consistent shallow angle relative to the horizontal, after which the yarn is single threaded by moving the traveler onto it.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for consistently effecting single traveler-threading during the piecing of yarn upon textile spinning frames and like machines.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus of the type described, for use with pneumatic or similar traveler-threading operations so as to greatly minimize instances of nonthreading of the traveler.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus of the type described, wherein yarn breakage upon the resumption of normal spinning operations is also reduced.

It is yet a further and more specific object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for consistently performing pneumatic or similar traveler-threading operations in such a manner as to obviate instances of nonthreading and multiple threading, the yarn path between the bobbin and the travelerengaging surface of the spinning ring being adjusted to a prescribed inclination prior to the movement of the traveler about the spinning ring onto the yarn, to assure consistent single-threading and to prevent excessive movement of the traveler about the ring during threading to obviate multiple threading.

Some of the objects having been stated, other objects will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an environmental perspective view, with some parts broken away, showing several deliveries of a spinning frame serviced by an automatic yarn piecing apparatus embodying principles of the present invention, one of said deliveries having a broken yarn thereat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, with parts broken away, of the subcarriage of the piecing apparatus which carries the mechanisms for finding, extending and traveler-threading yarn upon the bobbin at a delivery being serviced by the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the subcarriage of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4-6 are each fragmentary and partially schematic side elevations of a delivery of the spinning frame being serviced by the piecing apparatus and sequentially showing the relative operational positions of components of the apparatus prior to and during retrieval of the yarn end on the bobbin;

FIG. 6A is a plan view with parts broken away showing the preposition of the traveler about the ring of FIGS. 4-6;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation with parts broken away a similar to FIGS. 4-6, showing rewinding of a few turns of the retrieved yarn onto the bobbin to adjust its path to approximately a horizontal position preparatory to establishing the desired angle of yarn path inclination;

FIGS. 8-1 1 are side elevations similar to FIGS. 4-6, sequentially showing the further relative operational positions of the components to attain the desired angle of yarn inclination and properly thread the traveler on the yarn;

FIGS. 8A and 9A are plan views respectively showing the relative positions of the traveler and the traveler-stop components during the operations illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view, partially in section and partially in elevation with some parts broken away, of the bobbin driv ing and braking disc shown in FIG. 1 and its associated components; and l FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 13-13 in FIG. 12.

The spinning frame S shown in FIG. 1 is of a conventional type including a spindle rail 10 on which are mounted a plurality of rotatable bobbin-supporting spindles 11 to each of which yarn Y is normally directed from spaced sets of drafting rolls including respective bottom and top front delivery rolls 12 and 13. The yarn issuing at each delivery from front rolls I2 and I3 normally passes downwardly through a guide 14 and balloon control ring 60, and then through a traveler l5 movable about a ring 16 surrounding its respective spindle II. All of the rings 16 are carried by a ring rail 17 which reciprocates axially of the spindles 11 to guide the yarn Y along the bobbins 11' as it is wound thereon by rotation of the spindles 11 in a clockwise direction through drive tapes 62.

The yarn piecing apparatus YP shown in FIG. 1 includes a.

main carriage 20 mounted in any suitable manner for longitudinal movement along the spinning frame S to a position of alignment with any delivery thereof requiring servicing by reason of a broken yarn or ends-down" condition thereat. The carriage's supporting, driving, aligning and control mechanisms do not form part of the'present invention per se, and may be of any desired type. The apparatus YP specifically shown for purposes of illustration is of the type wherein yarn previously spun and wound upon a bobbin of spinning frame S is retrieved, traveler threaded and then rejoined to the yarn issuing from the rolls I2, 13 at the delivery in question to effect piecing. Principles of the invention are also applicable, however, to other types of piecing apparatus, including those which add a length of yarn and/or which change bobbins during the piecing operation.

FIG. I generally illustrates the position assumed by carriage 20 relative to a spindle l 1 at a delivery, illustratively the third from the left, where the yarn has broken. The roving end of the broken yarn is shown at B as it is delivered downwardly over bottom roll 12 and into the conventional ends-down suction orifice 21 therebeneath. The other end of the broken yarn indicated at B in FIGS. 6-1-1, is in FIG. 1 upon the bobbinpackage of the associated spindle 11. The lower portion of carriage 20 mounts means including a rotatable and pivotally movable bobbin driving and braking disc 24 for interrupting the normal rotation of the spindle 11 at the delivery being serviced. The upwardly projecting portion of carriage 20, having a guide track 23 extending lon itudinally thereof, mounts a vertically movable subcarriage 30 which carries means, including a suction head 22 connected by a flexible hose 26 to a suction source (not shown) within carriage 20, for retrieving and traveler threading the yarn upon spindle-mounted bobbin 11'. The upper portion of carriage 20 mounts a pivotally movable piecing head 28, best shown in FIG. 5, which completes each piecing operation by transporting the retrieved and traveler-threaded bobbin yarn to delivery rolls 12, 13 and joining the same with the yarn B issuing therefrom. With the exception of piecing head 28, which forms no part of the present invention as such, the aforesaid components and their modes of operations are described in detail hereinafter.

DISC 24 Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, s well as to FIG. 1, disc 24 is mounted for rotative movement about a substantially vertical axis, and also for translatory movement toward and away from the lower end portion of the spindle 11 being serviced by apparatus YP, on a shaft 78 which extends through an arcuate slot 82 provided in the upper platform of carriage 20s lower portion and journaled for rotation by a housing 72 carried within carriage 20 upon a lever 84 pivotally movable with a supporting shaft 86. Shaft 78 has affixed to its lower end a pulley 87, about which a drive belt 88 is entrained, and intermediate its height has a collar afflxed thereto by a one-way clutch 92 and snapring 94. An arm 70 carried by collar 80 projects radially therefrom through a slot 74 provided within housing 72 and extending through an arc of approximately Belt 88 and shaft 86 are each connected to selectively energizable drive mechanisms (not shown) within carriage 20 which, at the outset of each piecing operation, pivot shaft 86 and rotate pulley 87 about their respective axes in the clockwise directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 12. The clockwise movement of shaft 86 is transmitted through lever 84, housing 72 and shaft 78 to disc 24, moving the same from its inoperative position of FIG. 1 to an operative position wherein its peripheral edge, which is provided with a high-friction surface, engages the lower portion of spindle 11 at the spinning frame delivery being serviced (see FIG. 6). The clockwise rotation imparted to disc 24 by pulley 87 halts the engaged spindle's normal clockwise rotative movement in the winding direction, and rotates the spindle more slowly in the opposite or unwinding direction. One-way clutch 92 freely permits the aforesaid clockwise rotation of shaft 78 relative to collar 80, but locks the collar to the shaft upon attempted counterclockwise rotation of the latter. This occurs upon deenergization of the drive means including belt 88 while disc 24 is maintained in engagement with spindle l 1. Tape 62 then rotates spindle 11 in its winding direction (FIG. 7) until the resulting counterclockwise rotation of collar 80, transmitted from disc 24 through shaft 78 and clutch 92, moves arm 70 from its solid line and to its phantom line position of FIG. 13. The abutment of arm 70 against the end of housing slot 74 then stops and prohibits further rotation of shaft 78 and disc 24. Spindle 11 is thus stopped and thereafter maintained stationary by the disc until it is again moved to its inoperative position or belt 88 is again activated to rotate pulley 87 in a clockwise direction.

SUBCARRIAGE 30 guides 33, 34 attached to the upper portion of one side thereof and defining a trackway mounting a horizontally slidable plate 32. On the opposite side of plate 31, an integral flange 35 extends therefrom into vertical track 23 of carriage 20 (FIG. 1), where it is connected to selectively energizable drive means (not shown) for at times vertically reciprocating subcarriage 30. An arm 29 secured to and extending first outwardly and then forwardly from the same side of base plate 30 as flange 35 is adapted to at times during each piecing operation engage ring rail 17 of spinning frame S and thereby support subcarriage 30 on the ring rail for vertical movement therewith.

A leg 39 of plate 32, extending downwardly from its right end as viewed in FIG. 2, is provided with a bearing flange 40 and a lug 46 thereon. A tension spring 41, connected between lug 46 and a lug 42 on base plate 31, biases plate 32 for sliding movement in a leftward direction. A bracket 52 attached to flange 35 of plate 31 beneath slidable plate 32 includes a pair s zsslzo of ears 32' at the upper end thereof. An L-shaped actuator 33 pivotally mounted between ears 32' engages bearing flange 43 at its upper end, and has its lower end connected to an extendable and retractable control wire 34 which passes through bracket 32 and a protective sheath 33 to suitable means (not shown) disposed within carriage 24) for at desired times extending and retracting the wire. When wire 3 is fully retracted, engagement of actuator 33 with flange ill maintains plate 32 in its rightmost position'(FlG. 2), against the leftward biasing force of spring ll. Upon counterclockwise pivotal movement of actuator 33 resulting from extension of wire 3 5, spring 4H1 moves plate 32 to the left, which is toward spinning frame S as viewed in H0. ll.

Suction head 22 is attached in any suitable manner to the left end of slidable plate 32 such that its vertically extending inlet opening is disposed forwardly of the plate and faces spinning frame 5. Also attached to plate 32, such that its outlet opening faces frame S, is a nozzle 33 connected by a flexible conduit 43' to a pressurized air source (not shown) within carriage for, at desired times, directing an airblast from the nozzle to propel the traveler 115 at the delivery being serviced about the spinning ring H6 at such delivery.

Subcarriage 33 includes means for positively stopping the aforesaid traveler movement, in the form of a first wirelilte member 33 carried by and extending first laterally and then forwardly from one side of suction head 22, and a second wirelike member 23 similarly extending in spaced adjacent relationship to member 50 from a yarn depressor element 27 disposed forwardly of suction head 22 and having a concave leading edge (HO. 3) generally conforming in curvature to that of spinning rings 16. Depressor element l is carried at the leading end of a lever 45 connected at its rear end by a pivot pin 43 to plate 32 for sliding movement with the plate and for pivotal movement relative to it in a generally vertical plane about the axis of pin 63. Plate 32 carries a guide 4M for supporting lever 45 and stabilizing its aforesaid pivotal movement, and is provided with an opening 33 for permitting passage through plate 32 of a pinlike follower 51 carried by and projecting laterally from lever 45. The free end portion of follower 511 is engaged during sliding movement of plate 32 by suitable cam means 36 fixed to the adjacent face of base plate 31 so as to at desired times during such movement then pivot lever 45 and depressor 47 between their lowered position shown in FIG. 2 and their upward position shown in FIG. 6.

In its upward inoperative position (FIG. 6), depressor 37 is sufficiently above the inlet opening of suction head 22 to not impede the latters placement closely adjacent that portion of a bobbin 111' above its associated ring 16 for the purpose of retrieving therefrom the free end of yarn upon the bobbin. Suction head 22 is provided inwardly of its inlet opening and adjacent the lower portion thereof with yarn guiding means which, as shown in FIG 7, may take the form of a downwardly extending projection 22' within its throat portion. When subcarriage 30 is supported upon ring rail 11'] by arm 29, projection 22' serves to guide yarn B withdrawn and extending out wardly from a bobbin ill through a desired location spaced at predetermined distance above the traveler engaging surface of the upper flange of the ring 16 associated with the bobbin.

OPERATION The operational steps of the method and apparatus are sequentially and schematically shown in lFlGS. 3-111, and also to some extent in FIG. l. in H65. 1 and i, carriage 2Q of piecing apparatus Y? has stopped in alignment with the delivery of spinning frame S at which an end-down condition has occurred and been detected. Roving yarn B, still issuing at such delivery from front delivery rolls l2, 23, passes into the spinning frame suction orifice 21 at such delivery. Tape 62 continues to drive spindle 1'1 and thus bobbin llll in the winding direction, but traveler l5 remains stationary in the random position assumed by it on ring lib when the yarn break occurred. Subcarriage 30 is maintained in an elevated inoperative position by flange 33 and slidable plate 32 thereof is maintained in its rightmost position by actuator 33.

Subca'rriage 3t) then is moved downwardly by downward movement of flange 33 through tracltway 23, so that its supportive arm 29 engages and rests upon vertically moving ring rail ll? of spinning frame S (lFllG. 3). The drive mechanism associated within carriage 20 with flange 33 then relinquishes its control over the subcarriage, which is: now supported through arm 29 by ring rail 11? for vertical movement therewith. Plate 32 and disc 22 still occupy their rightmost positions, and winding rotation of spindle Ill and bobbin llll' continues.

in FlG. ti, disc 2 is pivoted by lever 84 into engagement with the lower portion of spindle Ill and is being driven through pulley 37 so as to slowly rotate the spindle and bobbin ill in an opposite or unwinding direction. Control wire 54 is extended to impart counterclockwise pivotal movement to actuator 33 and permit leftward movement of slidable plate 32 under the impetus of spring dll. During leftward movement of late 32, arm d3 and depressor 37 are cammed upwardly to an inoperative elevated position by foliower pin 31 and cam means 36, so as to not impede the close approach of the inlet of suction head 22 to that portion of bobbin 111 immediately above ring lb. The suction flow of air begun through head 22 and its associated hose 26 retrieves the end of the yarn B on the aforesaid portion of the unwinding bobbin ill and conveys such end and succeeding lengths of the yarn B through suction head 22 and hose 26 to photoelectric or other suitable sensing means (not shown) within carriage 20.

As is best shown in H6. 6A, when the inlet of suction head 22 is adjacent bobbin ll, the wirelike member 50 carried by suction head 22 engages the traveler mounting flange of spinning ring 16 at a point thereon circumferentially spaced an appreciable distance from that point on the ring, generally toward the front thereof, at which traveler threading will subsequentially occur. At any convenient time during such engagement between member 30 and ring 16, an airblast is transmitted through nozzle 43 generally tangentially of the rings interior surface to propel traveler 15 about the ring to a position of engagement with element 50. The airblast so follows the circular contour of the interior surface of the ring as to produce the aforesaid desired result irrespective of the point upon the ring at which the traveler comes to rest following yarn breakage.

After a desired amount of the yarn B is withdrawn from bobbin llll' into suction head 22 and hose 26, as detected by the aforesaid sensing means within carriage 20, the drive to disc 2d is deenergized and the suction airflow through head 22 and hose 2% is stopped. The withdrawn yarn B within hose 26 is held by its frictional engagement with the interior surface of the hose. At the moment disc 23 ceases to rotate spindle l1 and bobbin ill in an unwinding direction, the path of the yarn B between the bobbin and abutment 22' of suction head 22 may extend, as shown in FIG. 6, from the very top portion of the remaining yarn upon the bobbin. This condition exists only momentarily since, immediately upon deenergization of disc 2 ?!5 drive, tape 62 rotates spindle l1 and bobbin ill a few revolutions in the winding direction, preferably from approximately two to five revolutions, while the arm associated with disc 2d moves from its solid line and to its phantom line position of FIG. 23. The resulting rewinding of a few turns of the previously withdrawn yarn l3 onto bobbin 11' brings, as indicated in FlG. '7, the yarn B between bobbin 111' and suction head 22 to a substantially horizontal path disposed a predetermined desired distance, governed by the elevation of suction head abutment 22' and preferably approximately /2 inch, above the traveler-engaging surface of the traveler flange of ring if. It will be appreciated that the same result would have ensued if, at the moment of cessation of the bobbins rotation in an unwinding direction, the bobbin or inner end of the yarn B extending to suction head 22 were at some location upon the bobbin other than that shown in FIG. 6. in any event, the bobbin end of the yarn path will, upon winding rotation of bobbin ill, be either lowered or elevated so as to substantially assume the same elevation as that of the outer end of the yarn B engaging abutment 22' within suction head 22.

In FIG. 8, spindle l1 and bobbin 11 are held stationary by disc 24, which is in itself maintained stationary by abutment of arm 70 with an extremity of slot 74 (FIG. 13) as, plate 32 is moved to the right by retraction of wire 54 and the resulting clockwise pivotal movement of actuator 53. During rightward movement of plate 32, lever 45 and thus yarn depressor 47 are cammed to a lowered position by follower pin 51 and cam means 36. In the course of the downward movement, depressor 47 engages the yarn B between bobbin 11 and suction head 22 and deflects the same downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of the traveler flange of spinning ring 16. The yarn path between bobbin l1 and ring 16 thus assumes a small inclination designated by the angle 1 which is preferably in the general range of from to 20 relative to the horizontal. As is best shown in FIG. 8A, the rightward movement of suction head 22 with plate 32 disengages wirelike element 50 from ring 16.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 9A, plate 32 is now moved again to the left, but only the minor distance required to bring depressor 47 and the yarn engaged thereby closely adjacent the cylindrical outer surface and immediately beneath the overlying traveler flange of ring 16. When depressor 47 is so disposed, the wirelike member 49 carried thereby engages the traveler flange of ring 16 at a point leaving a clear path along the front segment of the ring between the prepositioned traveler and the yarn B extending from bobbin 11 and over the traveler flange. Another momentary ail-blast then emitted from nozzle 48 propels traveler 15 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 9A) about ring 16 onto the yarn B snubbed by depressor 47 about the traveler flange. The prepositioning of traveler 15 (FIG. 6A) ensures that when it is subjected to the last-mentioned airblast, it is not either trapped beneath the yarn B as the same is brought into engagement with ring 16 or disposed so closely adjacent the yarn as to be incapable of obtaining sufiicient velocity prior to engagement therewith to reliably mount the yarn. If the angularity of the yarn path between bobbin 11' and ring 16 were large,

as would be the case if the bobbin end of such path were disposed as shown in FIG. 6, traveler 15 would not in many instances mount and thus thread itself upon the yarn. By reducing as aforesaid (FIGS. 7 and 8) the angularity of the yarn path to not more than approximately 20, however, traveler threading reliably ensues. The establishment of some angularity, say 10 and 20, of the yarn path causes the yarn to exert retarding or braking action upon the air-propelled traveler 15 once the same is threaded, discouraging continued movement of the traveler entirely about the rings circumference and threading a second time upon the yarn. Such double-threading of traveler 15 may also be positively prohibited, and is so prohibited in the apparatus shown, since the traveler would before any possible double-threading engage wirelike member 49 and be brought to a stop. When member 49 or other means for positively preventing double-threading of traveler 15 are provided, a yarn path angularity of less than that previously described and shown in FIG. 8 is permissible, and may be achieved by modifying in any one of several possible ways the illustrated construction such that the vertical distance in FIG. 7 between the upper surface of ring 16 and the lower surface of abutment 22' of head 22 is reduced.

In FIG. 10 disc 24, spindle 11 and bobbin 11 remain stationary as wire 54 is retracted to move plate 32 completely back to its original rightward position. FIG. 11 shows subcarriage 30 being moved upwardly to its original elevated position of FIG. I, by flange 35 and the associated and reactuated drive mechanism within carriage 20. During upward movement of subcarriage 30, some of the now traveler-threaded yarn 8' previously withdrawn from bobbin 11' into suction head 22 and hose 26 trails therefrom. It its elevated position, subcarriage 30 is sufl'iciently closely adjacent piecing head 28 (FIGS. 1, 4 8c 5) that the latter can receive the yarn B and convey the same to front delivery rolls 12,' 13 and there join the same to the roving yarn issuing from such rolls. Disc 24 remains in braking engagement with spindle 11 until at or shortly before the moment the yarns are joined by piecing head 28, and then is moved by lever 84 out of engagement with the spindle so that bobbin 1 1 resumes its normal winding rotation under the impetus of tape 62. The shallow angle of the yarn path between bobbin 11' and traveler 15 is favorable to overcoming the traveler's inertia, upon the resumption of normal winding rotation of bobbin 11', so that the stresses then exerted upon the yarn are lessened and there is less tendency for the yarn to break than would otherwise be the case if the yarn path extended at a more abrupt angle.

It will be appreciated that various modifications of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the invention are possible. For example, control of the bobbin's rotation might be effected by positively driving disc 24 in both directions or by pivoting it momentarily out of engagement with spindle 11, rather than by use of the one-way clutch and stop mechanisms shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The foregoing description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention should therefore be recognized as exemplary only, the scope of the invention being in accordance with the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a method for the automatic threading of a traveler on a ring of a textile machine with a bobbin-connected yarn, which comprises finding the end of said yarn on said bobbin, withdrawing a predetermined length of said yarn from said bobbin with an unwinding rotation thereof, aligning the yarn path of said yarn proximal the ring flange of said ring such that it abuts said flange and extends therefrom to said bobbin at an oblique angle to the horizontal, and moving said traveler about said ring to mount said yarn and be threaded thereby, the improvement comprising positioning said yarn path horizontally at a predetermined elevation above said ring prior to said aligning whereby upon said aligning said oblique angle formed is a predetermined shallow angle whereby said traveler in said moving will encounter said yarn, mount it but once and be stopped thereby.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said predetermined shallow angle is in the approximate range of 10 to 20.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said positioning includes rewinding said yarn back onto said bobbin a predetermined number of wraps thereabout.

' 4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said predetermined number of wraps is in the range of 2 to 5.

5. In an apparatus for the automatic threading of a traveler on a ring of a textile machine with a bobbin-connected yarn, which comprises means for finding the end of said yarn on said bobbin, means for withdrawing a predetermined length of said yarn from said bobbin, means for rotating and braking rotation of said bobbin, means for aligning the yarn path of said yarn proximal to and at an oblique angle extending from said bobbin to said ring, and means for moving said traveler about said ring, the improvement comprising yarn path positioning means for positioning said yarn path at a predetermined horizontal elevation above said ring, actuable prior to actuation of said aligning means,

whereby, upon actuation of said aligning means, said yarn path abuts the ring flange of said ring and extends therefrom to said bobbin at a predetermined and consistent shallow oblique angle to the horizontal,

whereby, upon movement of said traveler about said ring by said means therefor, said traveler will encounter said yarn, mount it but once and be stopped thereby.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes means for rewinding said yarn onto said bobbin a predetermined number of wraps thereabout.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said rewinding means includes a one-way clutch mechanism interconnected with said bobbin rotating means.

ing means for limiting the extent of rotation of said collar in said second direction,

wherein said first direction of rotation is that of unwinding yarn from said bobbin and said second direction of rotation is that of rewinding yam onto said bobbin.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO.

DATED INVENTOR(S) I December 21, 1971 Albert D. Harmon It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the face sheet, "Attorney Donald H. Feldman" should read Agent At column 2,

line 5, "tent" should read tend line 9, "he" should read the line 29, "outer end" should read outer ends I At column 4, line 8, "5 well" should read as well At column 6, line 19, "late" should read plate At column 7,

48, "10 and 20" [SEAL] Signed and Sealed this twenty-eight D ay Of October I 975 A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer c. MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Parents and Trademarks 

1. In a method for the automatic threading of a traveler on a ring of a textile machine with a bobbin-connected yarn, which comprises finding the end of said yarn on said bobbin, withdrawing a predetermined length of said yarn from said bobbin with an unwinding rotation thereof, aligning the yarn path of said yarn proximal the ring flange of said ring such that it abuts said flange and extends therefrom to said bobbin at an oblique angle to the horizontal, and moving said traveler about said ring to mount said yarn and be threaded thereby, the improvement comprising positioning said yarn path horizontally at a predetermined elevation above said ring prior to said aligning whereby upon said aligning said oblique angle formed is a predetermined shallow angle whereby said traveler in said moving will encounter said yarn, mount it but once and be stopped thereby.
 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said predetermined shallow angle is in the approximate range of 10* to 20*.
 3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said positioning includes rewinding said yarn back onto said bobbin a predetermined number of wraps thereabout.
 4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said predetermined number of wraps is in the range of 2 to
 5. 5. In an apparatus for the automatic threading of a traveler on a ring of a textile machine with a bobbin-connected yarn, which comprises means for finding the end of said yarn on said bobbin, means for withdrawing a predetermined length of said yarn from said bobbin, means for rotating and braking rotation of said bobbin, means for aligning the yarn path of said yarn proximal to and at an oblique angle extending from said bobbin to said ring, and means for moving said traveler about said ring, the improvement comprising yarn path positioning means for positioning said yarn path at a predetermined horizontal elevation above said ring, actuable prior to actuation of said aligning means, whereby, upon actuation of said aligning means, said yarn path abuts the ring flange of said ring and extends therefrom to said bobbin at a predetermined and consistent shallow oblique angle to the horizontal, whereby, upon movement of said traveler about said ring by said means therefor, said traveler will encounter said yarn, mount it but once and be stopped thereby.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes means for rewinding said yarn onto said bobbin a predetermined number of wraps thereabout.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said rewinding means includes a one-way clutch mechanism interconnected with said bobbin rotating means.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said bobbin rotating and braking means includes a shaft mounting a bobbin driving and braking disc member for rotation therewith, and wherein said one-way clutch mechanism includes a collar mounting said shaft, interconnecting means for interconnecting said collar and shaft for relative rotation therebetween in a first direction and for simultaneous rotation in a second direction, and limiting means for limiting the extent of rotation of said collar in said second direction, wherein said first direction of rotation is that of unwinding yarn from said bobbin and said second direction of rotation is that of rewinding yarn onto said bobbin. 